Camel fighting persists despite ban

The crowdscream to the din of dhol drums and inch closer to the animals asanticipation mounts ahead of the bout, which is part of a festival inthe central city of Layyah. Before the fight begins, the camels are stripped of their festive pom poms and bells.Then the games begin.Animalswrestle with their necks and bite as they attempt to pin theiradversary to the ground. There are howls of pain and grunts.“It is acultural fair and people came here to see it with passion and zeal,”spectator Atiq ur Rehman said. “You can see the excitement around here.”Eventuallythe referee declares a winner, prompting fans to surge forward toencircle the victorious animal. The owner sits proudly on the camel’sback celebrating success - but also prize money of around Rs100,000($715). Camel fighting is illegal in Pakistan but the event at theLayyah festival still draws a significant crowd.The country has a long history of bloodsports - with bears, cocks, and dogs, among the other creatures forced to fight.“According to the Pakistani law, all animal fights are illegal,” said lawyer Abdul Ahad Shah of the Animal Welfare Organisation.He added that most camels injured in the fights are not given proper medical care. “Villagers use local remedies to treat wounds. It’s cruel,” Shah explained. Enthusiasts brush away the criticism, saying the fights are a tradition in the country’s Punjab heartland.The animals are usually trained for more than a year before they take part in any fights. “Itshows our culture,” said local elder Muhammed Ali Jatoi. “People gatherhere, greet each other and forget the anxieties of life.”Pakistan does little to enforce its bans on any kind of animal fighting, though there are sporadic crackdowns.Lastyear it passed an amendment to its Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsBill which suggested the fine for inciting animals to fight should beincreased from Rs50 rupees to Rs300,000.